Walkin’, Talkin’, Bein’ a Friend

Owen was a walkin’ man. He loved to walk through town, or out on a country road. Walking was a good time to think, to be quiet, or to have a calm conversation with a friend, or his brother.

A few months back, Nat told me about a day when the two of them took a drive out to the hills east of San Diego. They got out of the car and started walking. Just walking, and talking. Nat can’t remember what they talked about, just that they spent time together, talked about stuff that meant something to them at the time, and figured they would always have these times again. They didn’t, they won’t. I can only imagine how lonely Nat is now. He has friends, a girlfriend, a stepdaughter…yet, his lifelong friend, Owen, can’t take those same walks with him now.

When Nat walks, and he walks often, I wonder what he thinks. I hope he talks with Owen. I hope he knows it’s okay to talk with his best buddy, even though Owen can’t answer in the ways he used to – he still does. I know this. I hope Nat knows. I hope he feels Owen’s presence, and knows there’s no such thing as alone, as long as you keep the lines open, the conversation going.

Watching the two of them together – walking, talking, laughing…it was a beautiful thing.

Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold
They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you
Well, they’ll take your soul if you let them
But don’t you let them…

Welcome to a blog I never wanted to write…

Reading the page below entitled, "Mystery O. Riley" will give you some background, and if you find our mystery something you'd like to follow, please come back often. Losing our 20-year-old son isn't the way it's supposed to be, as we always hear people say. But, for some of us, it is the way it is. And, there's nothing to do, but find a path on this unthinkable road, through an unimaginable forest of grief, and in our case...an unforgiveable river of mystery.